The Medical Imaging Equipment Supply Chain

The medical imaging equipment industry utilizes a complex international supply chain to manufacture and maintain specialized and complex imaging devices, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), ultrasound, and X-ray technologies. These devices – which are all FDA regulated– are highly sophisticated pieces of capital equipment and a key part of the global marketplace. In the U.S., these finished products guide treatment decisions for millions of Americans every year for everything from simple bone fractures to highly complex cancers.

MANUFACTURING MEDICAL IMAGING EQUIPMENT REQUIRES A SKILLED AND SOPHISTICATED SUPPLIER NETWORK.

  • Imaging supply chains are multi-tiered with dozens (or more) suppliers from multiple countries that contribute to the manufacturing of one machine. Each supplier and source in the supply chain is key to the development of the final product.

  • It is common for component parts to be imported from a manufacturer in one country to their manufacturing facility in another country, where they are substantially transformed, re-exported, or sold.

  • Some machines, such as those that utilize positron emission tomography (PET), require minerals and other rare materials that can only be sourced from specific geographic areas. 

THE FOUNDATION OF MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS FOR IMAGING EQUIPMENT IS STABLE AND RESILIENT INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS.

  • Throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic, the imaging equipment supply chain worked efficiently to ensure consistent manufacturing of imaging devices.

  • Manufacturers have implemented multiple methods to make supply chains more resilient, including dual sourcing and regional manufacturing facilities.

  • Protecting our global supply chain will enable U.S. manufacturers to maintain their global position as a leading exporter of imaging devices.

POLICYMAKERS MUST ENSURE THAT PATIENT ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING TECHNOLOGY IS NOT COMPROMISED.

  • Medical devices – including imaging technologies – provide enormous economic and health value to Americans.

  • Manufacturers follow regulatory compliance at every step of the process and also ensure that their supply chain partners maintain equally high standards.

  • To enable the medical imaging industry to continue to thrive, it is critical that trade regulations protect the highly complex medical imaging supply chain from disruption.